Public Health Nurse

Tohono O•San Simon, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Health Nurse (PHN) serves as a community health advisor and provides comprehensive nursing services to schools, individuals, and families on the Tohono O’odham Nation. The position is located within Tohono O’odham Nation Health Care facilities, including Sells Hospital, San Xavier Health Center, Santa Rosa Health Center, and San Simon Health Center. Temporary relocation to other TONHC facilities may be required. The PHN works under the supervision of the Director of Public Health Nursing, who establishes program objectives and operations according to the Standards of Care for Public Health Nursing Programs. Following PHN priority policies for home visits, the nurse independently plans and schedules services for an assigned geographic area and determines appropriate assessments, counseling, teaching, and treatment. The position provides population-based nursing care across clinics, homes, schools, and community settings. Services include health promotion and disease prevention, immunization coordination, screening clinics, maternal and child health, communicable disease investigation and response, patient education, referrals, and emergency preparedness. The PHN documents care using applicable systems, coordinates with tribal, state, and federal entities, and may lead or guide non-professional staff. Duties vary by assignment and may include other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated state accrediting agency when the program was completed.
Two years of clinical nursing experience.
Active, current, and unrestricted Registered Nurse license in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
Knowledge of Tohono O’odham traditions, language, history, geography, and culture; applicable federal, state, and tribal laws; health-related issues; medical terminology; and health and child care education.
Knowledge of comprehensive health programs and professional public health nursing principles, practices, and procedures for providing services in clinics, homes, schools, and community environments.
Knowledge of current research methods, including statistical compilation and interpretation, for epidemiological surveys, field investigations, research studies, and community health program planning and evaluation.
Ability to apply adult education methods to encourage behavioral changes related to good health practices.
Awareness of Native American tribal customs in the area and ability to appreciate cultural differences and their effects on health care delivery.
Ability to assess individuals, families, and communities physically and psychologically and recognize patient conditions ranging from normal to abnormal.
Knowledge of disease processes, illness, complications, therapeutic interventions, pharmaceuticals, desired treatment effects, side effects, and complications.
Ability to counsel healthy individuals on preventive care and provide guidance on nutrition, common illnesses, child growth and development, mental health, immunizations, and maternal and child health.
Knowledge of primary care and referral resources, performance improvement, evaluation processes, health records, and accurate clinical documentation.
Ability to independently organize services for a patient caseload and work cooperatively as part of a PHN team.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with tribal staff, health care professionals, community members, and people with varying knowledge and care needs.
Computer skills and knowledge of case-management programs, including RPMS and other systems.
Ability to instruct and provide job experience for trainees assigned to the PHN and other training programs.
Ability to drive government vehicles.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees and the public and to protect privileged and confidential information.
Ability to work extended hours and varied schedules, work independently, and meet strict timelines.
A criminal background check and National FBI fingerprint check are required upon recommendation for hire, along with a 39-month driving record.
May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver’s license, with no DUIs or major traffic citations within the previous three years; if required to operate program vehicles, must meet tribal employer insurance requirements for a driver’s permit.
May be required, based on department needs, to demonstrate fluency in both Tohono O’odham and English.

Nice To Haves

Public Health or Community Health Nursing experience or qualification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate, promote, and maintain the health of at-risk individuals, families, and the community through disease-prevention teaching, counseling, advocacy, referrals, care coordination, assessments, and interventions.
Assist with coordination of the immunization program, including tracking and follow-up.
Manage and participate in public health screening clinics, including interviewing and counseling clients, performing clinical tasks, administering prescribed treatment, documenting care, and making referrals.
Participate in emergency and bioterrorism preparedness and planning, and respond to emergencies such as flooding, fires, and microbursts.
Apply the public health nursing process to assess patient conditions and needs, set outcomes, implement appropriate nursing actions, and evaluate progress.
Refer patients to appropriate resources and organize the patient caseload in the assigned geographic area.
Apply treatment and interventions according to population-based health care principles and standing public health orders.
Identify and report child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and domestic violence incidents.
Provide maternal and child health services, conduct home visits as necessary, monitor prenatal patients, provide prenatal education, and participate in sonogram clinics.
Coordinate and exchange information with health care entities and other agencies to support effective patient care.
Use RPMS as appropriate and enter information into RPMS patient care packages as necessary.
Coordinate responses to reportable and infectious disease outbreaks on the Tohono O’odham Nation; work with state and tribal health departments on testing and contact investigations; and use MEDSIS for communicable disease investigation and surveillance.
Respond to communities to provide direct care and education, assist physicians with communicable disease control and treatment, and consult with agencies on communicable disease issues.
Coordinate sexually transmitted disease care, case and contact investigations, education, and liaison activities with state and federal entities.
Coordinate and implement treatment plans for active tuberculosis cases and preventive therapy for infected individuals; conduct TB testing and surveillance and coordinate community investigations.
Promote, teach, and demonstrate nursing care to patients, families, and community groups; provide information about diseases, health conditions, and health maintenance.
Provide public health consultation and health education to tribal programs, Head Start, schools, other community settings, TONHC employees, and outside agencies.
Participate with local community groups in developing and planning health services and serve on relevant community task forces.
Help orient new employees and mentor nurses in public health nursing; assist with planning and conducting continuing education; and maintain mandatory training compliance.
Lead and guide non-professional staff, such as Health Technicians and Disease Investigators.
Participate in performance improvement teams and committees; monitor work processes for quality and quantity and recommend corrective action.
Maintain professional nursing and public health nursing knowledge and proficiency through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops, and nursing committees.
Perform other duties as assigned.